Stream it now The Hitcher 2007

 

decent remake.

An irredeemably horrible remake of a HORROR MOVIE CLASSIC.
EXCELLENT remakes (like JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS , THE HILLS HAVE EYES, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, HALLOWEEN)

seem to forget that they're "remakes" and just seem to use the basic premise of the original as a "launch pad" to generate great thrills.

The Bad Remakes (THE OMEN, THE FOG, THE WICKER MAN, THE STEPFATHER) seem like they have to "strictly" adhere to the confines of the original film and seem to IMPRISON their own range of creativity in the pre-existing formula established by the original.

Basically with THE HITCHER, you have the same "catch phrases" used as dialog in the original film "popping-up" in the most ludicrous moments:
its like "they're" fighting and SEAN BEAN will suddenly stop and say a line RUTGAR HAUER said in the original and then go back to fighting.


The original THE HITCHER is a surreal and quietly "ambient" HORROR MOVIE with A LOT of inter-character subtexts going on

(like when HALSEY spits a lot of saliva onto JOHN RYDER and RYDER proceeds to delicately, tenderly place the boy's saliva in his mouth;

then there's a moment at the beginning, when RYDER slides into HALSEY'S car that we see an Extreme Close-up of Halsey looking at Ryder's lips glistening with rain-water;

and, towards the end, RYDER undoes the CHAINS and LEG IRONS "bonding" him together with Halsey.)

THE HITCHER (the original) is a totally sado-masochistic homo-erotic HORROR MOVIE with a beautifully AMBIENT score by MATRK ISHAM and SUPERB PANAVISION cinematography of the mid-western locations.

The remake seems to "throw-out" every element that MADE the original HITCHER such a GREAT FILM
the remake sets the story in an ungly, dusty, dirty 1970s Southwestern locale (and everything looks kind of brown and ocher, as opposed to the clear "yellows" and "blues" of the original.

There seems to be no subtext of any kind working in the remake and . . .

it "sucks" because it seems to consciously eliminate all of the synergistic "magical" elements of the original film (i.e. the acting, the music, the cinematography, the subtexts, "The GOTHIC Horror" (of JOHN RYDER'S demented "passionate" pursuit of Halsey).

now; you can read my other reviews (when I say a film is "bad" its got to be "REALLY BAD"--if I can find Goodness in a classic, rotten-film like HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD, I think I'd be able to detect any trace of "Goodness" in THE HITCHER (remake).

I don't think the cast and crew were too enthusiastic about THE HITCHER causing it to FAIL as bad as it does.


Believe me . . . this is an awful movie in the sense that, even if "they" remade it shot-for-shot at least they would have scored an 80% or a 90%, but what these guys did was TRASH excellent source-material and make 90 minutes of junk.

An alright remake, but with disturbing stupid stuff.

One of my personal favorites. Has you on the edge of your seat. Great debut for Dave Meyers and stunning performance by Sophia Bush.

although the critics do not agree, this film has a perfect combination of action, suspense, and gore. the film wasn't necessarily scary, but it gave you chills. the deaths are cool and "the hitcher" is a real badass. a fun film despite a predictable ending.

this movie left me undecided, it wasnt scary at all, but had a good story and i didn't have to wait long for the action to begin, the original "86 version's story was better but this one brought something different, anyway the only thing scary about this movie is Sean Penn.

although the ending is the same as any other horror movie it's very good storytelling throughout.

I Rilly Enjoyed this version.. The Original is wayyy more suspensfull yet this one has its moments I Recomend watching this and forming your own Oppinion Only Cause its a Either love it or hate it Type of remake Too Predictible Yet satisfying *

sean been is cool
this is movie is a no brainer, fun to watch, not scary at all, typical story line.

very good and suspensful not really scary but is very fun to watch with a couple of friends for a classic movie night!